Just Cruisin'
Encyclopedia
"Just Cruisin' " is a single by Will Smith
that appeared on Men in Black: The Album
and the UK release of his debut album, Big Willie Style
.
and was also available on the UK release on Big Willie Style. The song was written by Will Smith and produced by The Trackmasters, then known as Poke & Tone; the vocals were sung by actress Tichina Arnold
. The single found some success, making it to #56 on the Billboard Hot 100
, #83 on the Canadian Singles Chart
and #23 on the UK Singles Chart
. An Accompanying music video directed by Robert Caruso
was released and got some playing time on the likes of MTV
and BET
.
, including their debut 1995 album; Dah Shinin'
. Tupac Shakur
and The Notorious B.I.G.
are name-dropped in the song.
UK CD2
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
that appeared on Men in Black: The Album
Men in Black: The Album
-Sample Credits:*"Men in Black" featuress a sample from "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen written by Patrice Rushen, Terry McFadden and Fred Washington...
and the UK release of his debut album, Big Willie Style
Big Willie Style
Big Willie Style is the first solo studio album recorded by Will Smith, after spending most of his career as the latter half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince...
.
History
Just Cruisin' first appeared on the soundtrack, Men in Black: The AlbumMen in Black: The Album
-Sample Credits:*"Men in Black" featuress a sample from "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen written by Patrice Rushen, Terry McFadden and Fred Washington...
and was also available on the UK release on Big Willie Style. The song was written by Will Smith and produced by The Trackmasters, then known as Poke & Tone; the vocals were sung by actress Tichina Arnold
Tichina Arnold
Tichina Rolanda Arnold is an American actress and singer. She is best known for having portrayed the roles of Pamela James on the FOX sitcom Martin and the family matriarch Rochelle on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris....
. The single found some success, making it to #56 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, #83 on the Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
and #23 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. An Accompanying music video directed by Robert Caruso
Robert Caruso
Robert Caruso is a director of commercials, music video, film, and online content.Caruso grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he attended the School on Magnolia, an early Cleveland-area alternative high school. He was active as a musician, and was one of the founding members of the band the...
was released and got some playing time on the likes of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
.
Influences
Smith's lyricism on "Just Cruisin'" was very influenced by Smif-n-WessunSmif-N-Wessun
Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...
, including their debut 1995 album; Dah Shinin'
Dah Shinin'
Dah Shinin' is the debut album from Brooklyn Hip Hop duo Smif-N-Wessun. Members Tek and Steele made their debut previously on Black Moon's classic 1993 album Enta Da Stage. Dah Shinin has become one of the most heralded New York Hip Hop albums from the mid-'90s, famous for its hardcore lyrical...
. Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
and The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
are name-dropped in the song.
Tracklisting
UK CD1- "Just Cruisin'" (Original Version) - 4:00
- "Just Cruisin'" (Trackmasters Remix) - 4:11
- "Just Cruisin'" (Instrumental) - 3:59
- "Big Willie Style" (Snippets) - 2:36
UK CD2
- "Just Cruisin'" (Original Version) - 4:00
- "Big Willie Style" (Album Version) - 3:48
- "It's All Good" (Album Version) - 4:11